Monday Mixtape, Vol. 175

Another indie star is in blossom! I recently listened to Samia’s debut album, The Baby, and I’m smitten. It’s pop music, but it also could be inserted into any hipsters playlist where people would be “Hey, who’s this?”

Kid Cudi released a new album, and I still need to spend some time digesting. But “Tequila Shots” and “She Knows This” are standouts for me so far.

A famous rap producer, Statik Selektah, is clearly influenced by DJ Premier, Q-Tip. It’s a nice homage to those jazz-sampled beats. He released a great album with all sorts of great rappers, and the more I heard Jack Harlow’s track, the more I came to like it.

Bartees Strange is every critic’s favorite new artist. His debut album is all over the place, but he does it well. I like him, but I need to spend a lot more time with the album.

Next week or two I’ll be posting my favorite 100 songs and 25 albums of 2020! Get pumped!!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 38

A few very quick blurbs about this week’s music:

If you haven’t gotten into The Staves - and this track wets your whistle - please listen to their gorgeous album from 2014, If I Was

I’ve been following Dizzy Wright for a bit, and he seems to be making some serious traction as he’s showing up on tracks with a bunch of bigger rappers. This track, from his new EP, is instantaneously likable. 

Nap Eyes is a little bit Belle & Sebastian (ok, a lot), and I just dug this track (and not as much the album)

I had Sunflower Bean on a previous mixtape, but this track rocks. I’m enjoying their debut album.

Static Selektah is basically DJ Premier 2.0. Premier is one of my favorite producers ever. Selektah’s beats are very 90s and all pretty great. This one has a very ATCQ-like rhythm. And one of my faves, Ab-Soul, is on it. 

Bibio has always interested me. He has music to play in the morning or to wake up to after a nap. Chill. 

Have a good week! I’m off to Denver and LA this week.